Rural Roads and Local Economic Development

Nearly one billion people worldwide live in rural areas without access to the paved road network. This paper measures the impacts of India's USD 40 billion national rural road construction program using regression discontinuity and data covering every individual and firm in rural India. The mai...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Asher, Sam
Other Authors: Novosad, Paul
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C The World Bank 2018
Series:World Bank E-Library Archive
Online Access:
Collection: World Bank E-Library Archive - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:Nearly one billion people worldwide live in rural areas without access to the paved road network. This paper measures the impacts of India's USD 40 billion national rural road construction program using regression discontinuity and data covering every individual and firm in rural India. The main effect of new feeder roads is to allow workers to obtain nonfarm work. However, there are no major changes in consumption, assets or agricultural outcomes. Nonfarm employment in the village expands only slightly, suggesting the new work is found outside of the village. Even with better market connections, remote areas may continue to lack economic opportunities
Physical Description:66 pages